Fashion Street hawkers move court over vacation notice

Neha Basudkar

Monday, 26 February 2018

Manohar Akolkar, President of the association, said, “The court has postponed its hearing to February 27, as the PCB sought time from the court.”

PUNE: The MG Road Hawkers and Pathari Association Seva Sanstha has filed a petition in the Civil Court, Senior Division, against the Pune Cantonment Board (PCB) administration as the latter has directed these hawkers to vacate the area even after possessing authorised licences issued by the PCB, because the shops are located very close to each other and the street has no emergency exit and no fire safety.

The PCB administration reviewed fire safety measures at Fashion Street in Camp, against the backdrop of the fire at Kamala Mills compound in Mumbai which took place on December 29, 2017 midnight.

Manohar Akolkar, President of the association, said, “The court has postponed its hearing to February 27, as the PCB sought time from the court.”

In 1977, the PCB had issued licences to 448 hawkers to operate their business at Kamble Maidan. Over a period of time, illegal

hawkers started acquiring the space. Akolkar said, “If we are given licences by the PCB, then why are we told to vacate the area? The PCB should act against illegal hawkers not having licences. In fact, they are congesting the place.”